WBEZ | Olin Kreutzhttp://www.wbez.org/tags/olin-kreutz
Latest from WBEZ Chicago Public RadioenTeammates defend Cutler in Bears' losshttp://www.wbez.org/story/news/sports/bears-lose-rival-packers-nfc-championship
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/Jay CUtler after GB loss - GEtty Jonathan Daniel.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>The Green Bay Packers advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Chicago Bears 21-14 in NFC title game. The Bears were outplayed most of the first half of the game, but battled back in the second half.</p><p>Bears quarterback Jay Cutler had to leave with a knee injury in the third quarter. He was replaced by Todd Collins with Chicago trailing 14-0. It was not clear which knee Cutler injured or when it happened.</p><p>To many fans, Cutler's absence was a sign he wasn't taking the game seriously. To Cutler's teammates, it's a different story. Bears' longtime Center Olin Kreutz says he knew Cutler's injury was legit.</p><p>&quot;It was shaking right after he took the hit and walked back in the huddle,&quot;&nbsp;Kreutz said. &quot;It was swinging like this. So I knew that one of his ligaments, lower ligaments, probably went.&quot;</p><p>Linebacker Brian Urlacher was pointedly direct when asked by a reporter if he questions Cutler's toughness for not staying in the game.</p><p>&quot;Jay was hurt,&quot;&nbsp;Urlacher said. &quot;I don't question his toughness. He's one of the toughest - he's tough as hell. He's one of the toughest guys on our football team.&quot;</p><p>Bears' Coach Lovie Smith says the trainers made the decision to keep Cutler out of the game. Cutler is scheduled to have an MRI Monday.</p><p>After second-string Quarterback Todd Collins was ineffective, third-string Quarterback Caleb Hanie led the Bears to two touchdowns. But in the final minutes, Hanie threw his second interception. Green Bay took over with under a minute to play, downing the ball and leaving Chicago with a victory.</p><p>Cutler was having a rough afternoon, going 6 for 14 with 80 yards and an interception.</p><p>The Bears fell behind 14-0 in the first half, but the Bears defense held Green Bay Packer Quarterback Aaron Rodgers to zero points in the second half. The Packers winning touchdown was off a Caleb Hanie interception by B.J. Raji.</p><p>Green Bay nose tackle B.J. Raji, all 337 pounds of him, picked off the pass that was mistakenly thrown right to him, took off on a short jaunt to the end zone and then held the ball with his big hand right out in front.</p><p>Raji's 18-yard interception return for a TD with about six minutes to go Sunday turned out to be the biggest and most important play all day by an aggressive Packers' defense.</p><p>Meantime, up and down Clark Street near Wrigley Field, the bars were full of disappointed Bears fans hoping for bragging rights over their Green Bay counterparts.</p><p>Ben Rutledge at least looked for the positives.</p><p>&quot;I'm disappointed, obviously, because they lost,&quot;&nbsp;he said. &quot;But at the same time, I'm very proud of the season we had coming off a season where everyone figured they'd go 6-and-10. You can't go wrong with that.&quot;</p><p>Inside The Irish Oak, while some Bears fans were already trying to dance their troubles away, Stacey Nuzbach was more worried about what her Wisconsin friends would be saying on her Facebook wall.</p><p>&quot;My heart is broken in many, many little pieces,&quot;&nbsp;Nuzbach said.</p><p>Nuzbach said she's ready to adopt a mantra made famous by a different Chicago spots team: maybe next year.</p><p>But at Will's Northwood Inn, which <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->celebrates all things Wisconsin, Tim Fletcher in his Packers gear made it clear there was no love lost between the teams.</p><p>&quot;I&rsquo;m the one guy on the train with the Packers hat on and everybody else giving me dirty looks,&quot;&nbsp;Fletcher said. &quot;Next week, when I wear my Packers hat, I might get dirty looks, but I&rsquo;m the winner.&quot;</p><p>The Green Bay Packers will play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.</p></p>Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:17:00 -0600http://www.wbez.org/story/news/sports/bears-lose-rival-packers-nfc-championshipBears win! The real loser of yesterday's game? The Chicago Park District http://www.wbez.org/blog/justin-kaufmann/bears-win-real-loser-yesterdays-game-chicago-park-district
<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/AP101128057078.jpg" alt="" /><p><p>The Bears are 8-3, gassed up and ready for the final five games of the season. This game is a hard game to apply my usual snark to because a) the Bears played pretty damn good, and b) a dude died from falling off a Soldier Field wall.</p><p>That being said, wasn't it great watching Bears' linemen pummel Michael Vick?&nbsp;There's just something inside you that really wants to see him get smashed. Maybe it's for killing all those dogs. Maybe. Okay, Let's get to the observations.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img height="512" width="478" title="" alt="" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/blog/insert-image/2010-November/2010-11-29/AP101128057078.jpg" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The cold weather doesn't do any favors for Eagles' Head Coach Andy Reid. He is a very big dude. This reminds me of a funny 'Separated at Birth' my wife did from back in the day:&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img height="426" width="604" title="" alt="" src="http://llnw.wbez.org/blog/insert-image/2010-November/2010-11-29/andyreid-hamburger.jpg" /></p><p>Were there any good signs at Soldier Field yesterday?&nbsp;I was hoping the Bears fans would put some clever ideas on display to taunt Michael Vick. Give me details, please.</p><p><strong>Loser of the game</strong>:&nbsp;It wasn't Andy and the Eagles, but instead, the Chicago&nbsp;Park District. Sorry, but that field is atrocious - probably worst in the NFL. They will blame it on conditions, but when the field looks like it has been played on for 7 straight hours before the ball is even kicked off, we have problems. Hey, if the field and grass are worn out, go to the Ace hardware and get some green spraypaint. Seriously, it was garbage. The lawn in Union&nbsp;Park after Pitchfork looked better. And if it was because of some event the day before, plan better. This is the NFL and not to mention, a nationally televised game. <strong>Hey Rahm</strong>, you want to make Chicago a 'first tier city?' Fix the grass.</p><p>Jay Cutler was the Jay Cutler we thought we had coming to Chicago when we heard of the trade in 2009. <strong>More Philip Rivers, less Jeff George</strong>. It helps to spread the field when the running game bites off huge runs. When that happens, the Bears offense works. Who knew?&nbsp;I hate the rhetoric the announcers are throwing out about how Mike Martz had to change his game plan. I don't think the game plan has changed. I&nbsp;just think the Bears' running game is on track, not forcing Cutler to throw to make plays.&nbsp;What a concept. Good running games make QBs better.&nbsp;</p><p>Also, who gets flagged for yelling at a ref? <strong>This isn't basketball</strong>. Did reporters ask Jay Cutler what he said? It reminds me of that scene in <em>Semi-Pro</em> where Will&nbsp;Ferell spews awful profanities at the ref and gets ejected from the game. His response after the whistle?&nbsp;&quot;Whaaaat?&nbsp;What did I say???&quot;</p><p>Color commentator Daryl &quot;Moose&quot; Johnston wore another crazy pin-striped suit up in the booth. He's quietly turning into the <strong>guy who dances in front of the ABC&nbsp;7 studios</strong> during the 10pm news.</p><p>I've been saying it all year: If the Bears' offense <strong>scores 21 points</strong>, they win. If they put up three TDs the rest of the way: Super Bowl, Super Bears.</p><p>I hate to do this to you Bears fans, but the next few games are crucial - not just for the Bears season, but for defying history. <strong>The 2008 Denver Broncos were 8-5</strong> and on their way to the playoffs when they tanked and lost the last three games. Cutler played awful in those games and was shipped after the season ended. Coach Shanahan was fired. And not to be too prescient, but the Broncos lost the last game of the season to rival San Diego Chargers. The winner got the division.&nbsp;Loser went home.</p><p>You know who sucks? <strong>DeSean Jackson</strong>.&nbsp;Everyone loves the Eagles WR, but I&nbsp;saw him alligator arm a TD and just go down on a punt return. If I&nbsp;were an Eagles fan, I wouldn't like that very much. Say what you will about Devin Hester, but he does take hits.</p><p><strong>Winners</strong>: Lovie Smith, Mike Martz, Jay Cutler, Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, THE&nbsp;Tommie Harris, Chris Harris, Olin Kreutz, Matt Forte, Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Earl Bennett.</p><p><strong>Losers</strong>: Chicago Park District, Brad Maynard (don't line drive punts!&nbsp;You cost us three points).</p><p>Next up: Lions in Detroit. Motor City baby! Who wants to go with me? We'll party in Bloomfield Hills.</p></p>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:21:00 -0600http://www.wbez.org/blog/justin-kaufmann/bears-win-real-loser-yesterdays-game-chicago-park-district